Improvement in check-hooks



A. V. M. SPRAGUE.

Check-Hooks.

No. 140,555, Patented July1,1873.

Wig asses. jflyeizz em UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN V. M. SPRAGUE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHECK-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,555, dated July 1, 1873; application filed April 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUsTINV. M. SPRAGUE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Check-Hooks for Harness and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same.

My invention consists in combining, with the check-rein hook of a harness, a spring having a curvature conforming with that of the hook itself, and resting inside the same, and having the outer end turned up to form a guide for the insertion of the strap, all as hereinafter fully described.

The drawing represents a side view of my improvement.

A represents the saddle of an ordinary harness, and B the check or water hook. C is the spring. It is attached to the saddle by the same bolt and nut which secures the hook, or it may be attached in any other way. It

has an inner curvature, a, which rests inside the hook, and conforms more or less nearly to the curvature of the hook, leaving thereby a space, I), of a size only sufiicient to admit the check-rein and allow it proper play. At the rear the spring turns back and touches the end of the hook, and then turns up in a short curve, a, which forms the guide in entering the strap into the hook.

The advantage in this invention consists in its resting within the body of the hook and its peculiar curvature approximating that of the hook itself, leaving thereby only the small space, I), for the check-rein to rest in. By this means, while the strap has the proper play both vertically and laterally, it cannot become irregular in its action by jerking back and forth, as in the open hook; nor can it become doubled or twisted or get out of place in any respect. It always retains its proper place. This form of the spring for this purpose is preferable to any that simply shuts up against the end of the hook, thereby leaving its space open.

In addition to the above, the main curvature of the spring furnishes a round surface to guide the rein both into and out of place, therebyrequirin g but littleaction for the hand. This form also has a greater degree of elasticity and spring, and is not, therefore, easily broken, which is important, especially in winter. This form of spring also adapts itself perfectly to any and all forms of hooks.

I am aware that a spring has been combined with a check-hook located outside of the same, with its free end inside but such I do not desire to claim. a

In myinvention the spring is arranged within the hook, and has a curvature corresponding thereto, and it is provided with an upwardly-projecting curved end, serving as a means of guiding the rein into the hook.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The spring 0 arranged within the hook B and having a curvature, a, corresponding thereto, so-as to leave a space, b, for the checkrein, said spring being provided at its free end with an upwardly-projecting curve, 0, for the purpose of guiding the rein into the hook, substantially as described.

A. V. M. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses: R. F. OSGOOD,

CHAUNOEY NASH. 

